Club legend Shola Ameobi is determined to give something back to the community and the fans who backed him from the terraces by helping promote the Newcastle United Foundation and the plans for a new centre.
Ameobi, who is enjoying a new lease of life at Notts County, is a patron of the foundation and has been left excited for the future of the charity after plans for a new multi-million pound centre were unveiled.
The new centre will be at Murray House in Diana Street, just a short walk from St James’ Park where the foundation is currently based and Ameobi can’t wait to see the doors open.
“The plans are just amazing. Not just for football, but for all sports. That’s the great thing - it’s not just about the football, it’s about sports in general.
“From a physical standpoint, from a well-being standpoint, these kids will get the right start to life and hopefully hell them to go on and achieve things.
(L-R) John Marshall, Kate Bradley, Shola Ameobi and John Percival at Murray House (Image: handout)
“It’s great because it’s going to bring so many people into this building, so many adults too, who can use it for whatever sports they want.
“We’ve got the classrooms in there for education, so it’s going to change lives and for me that’s the most important thing. Being able to contribute and add in quality to people’s lives is fantastic.”
The foundation helps nearly 50,000 across Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead and Northumberland each year through various footballing activities, bringing together the club’s brand and the beautiful game for the benefit of some of the regions most disadvantaged or underprivileged residents.
And for Ameobi, who was inducted in the NUFC Hall of Fame last year at the annual foundation dinner, he has seen the impact on people helped by the foundation first hand.
“It’s crazy how big the Foundation is now, it’s great.
“They do so much work, go to so many deprived areas around the city and try to help there.
“I grew up in a deprived area, and to see what they do and to be involved in that, it really means a lot to me to be able to give back to kids who haven’t got quite the opportunities that I guess I’ve had growing up.
“The fact the Foundation go into these areas and really help the kids, you can see the smile on these kids faces in the courses they go through, seeing how much it means to them - that means the world to me.
“For me, it’s not about what you do now, it’s about what you can build for the future. That’s what the Foundation is about, that’s what they cherish - trying to build young men and women who can do great things in the future.
“It’s great that this new centre is now planned - and it’s come full circle for me with the headquarters they’re trying to build is basically the building I learned how to play football in.
“There’s a bit of poetic justice in that, how everything has come full circle, and I’m really, really excited about that.
“That will be in the area that I grew up in, it’s an area that’s quite deprived, but there is a lot of footfall through the area so I hope it helps bring further regeneration too.”
The foundation is supported by Newcastle United and the club’s biggest names are often there to offer a helping hand with the likes of Rafa Benitez and Jamaal Lascelles visiting projects ran by the charity or visiting people and hearing their stories of how they’ve been helped by the foundation. Bob Moncur and Steve Harper are among the other ex-players who are patrons of the foundation and Ameobi feels the backing of the club is key, but also revealed he felt the need to put something back into the community that supported him as a player.
“It is great having that NUFC badge there because Newcastle United is the beating heart of this city.
Rafa Benitez is having the same impact as Sir Bobby and long may it continue says Shola Ameobi
“It’s great that Foundation can use that to spread the word that we’re here.
“For me personally, being with the club for so long and having the privilege of playing for the club who I have supported all my life, I think it’d be remiss of me not to use that to try and spread the word and try to use the popularity that I’ve gained playing for Newcastle to try and help the Foundation out.
“I want to make sure other people get the opportunities I have had. People need to get a fresh start, they need to get the chance to do what they love doing.”